Abstract
From an evolutionary perspective, musical behavior such as playing an instrument can be considered as part of an individual’s courting behavior. Playing a musical instrument or singing might fulfill a function similar to that of a bird’s colored feathers: attracting attention. Therefore, musicians may be rated as more attractive than non-musicians. In an online survey, 137 volunteers (95 female) with ages ranging from 16 to 39 years rated the attractiveness of fictitious persons of the opposite sex described in short verbal profiles. These profiles differed with respect to whether the described person made music or not. Additionally, the musicians’ profiles varied with regard to whether the described person played music or sang in public or in private only. Results show that musicians’ profiles were not generally rated as more attractive than non-musicians’, but attractiveness did vary according to setting: private musicians were rated as most attractive, followed by non-musicians and public musicians. Furthermore, results indicate that participants who played a musical instrument or sang themselves gave higher ratings to profiles of musicians. But for participants who do not make music themselves, higher attractiveness ratings for musicians playing instruments or sing in private settings were found. These results indicate that the impression of sharing a common interest (making music) and furthermore making music in private instrumental settings seems to make people attractive to other people. No additional support for the sexual selection hypotheses for the evolution of music was provided by the current results. The musical status of the rater affected his or her judgements, with musicians rating other people as more attractive if they share the common interest in making music. Not the display of being a musician seems to be critical for attractiveness ratings but the perceived or imagined similarity by the rater created by information on musicality, fostering the theoretical significance of the communication aspect of music.
Highlights
Music has accompanied humans since the early beginnings of mankind
The present study examined a possible reproductive advantage of musicians based on psycho-evolutionary theories
Results failed to support the hypothesized higher attractiveness ratings for musicians compared to non-musicians
Summary
Music has accompanied humans since the early beginnings of mankind. A flute made from the wing bone of a goose vulture, which was found at the Swabian Alb in 2009 and is estimated to be about 40,000 years old (Adler, 2009), is considered to be the oldest proof of human music-making. Cave paintings of similar age, depicting dancers and percussion instruments offer additional proof of the musical activities of our ancestors (Miller, 2000). In today’s world, music is so omnipresent that its purpose in everyday life is not questioned. Little is known about the origins and functions of music (Mosing et al, 2015; Killin, 2018). Why did our earliest ancestors invest their precious resources into musical activities? One possible answer is that music serves an evolutionary purpose by increasing a person’s reproductive success Why did our earliest ancestors invest their precious resources into musical activities? One possible answer is that music serves an evolutionary purpose by increasing a person’s reproductive success
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